Steam separator



Dec. 6, 1932. c. c. THOMAS 1,889,938

'STEAM SEPARATOR Filed Dec. l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l nu a no 7 H l INVENTOR.

C. -C. THOMAS STEAM SEPARATOR Dec.- 6, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l, 1931 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 issaeas CARL c. THOMAS, or PASADENA, cALiroaNIA' STEAM snrAna'roi-t Application filed December 1, 193i. Serial No. 578,291.

This invention relates' to improvements in a device for separating water from steam moving in a conduit without interfering to.

, any serious extent with theV flow of steam. An U' embodiment ofthis invention-was disclosed byme, butnot claimed as a sepa-rate invention, in my application for Letters yPatent of the United States filed July 13, 1931, Serial Number 550,516. Y f Y In the present embodiment, the invention is shown more in detail and its use in practice as applied to steam pipes in three typesof boilers, in each case in conjunction with super-heating devices, and which will be more fully explained in the following specifications'. l An object of this invention is to separate water from steam moving in pipes by'making use of the inertia ofthe moving globules of water. Another object is to collect `atthe same time any water which may be residual in or entrained on the inside of the steam pipe, andy another object is to provide means y for removing from theimmediate pipethe Water thus separated and collected. 1

Inthe accompanying drawings, I have shown threeV types of boilers, a locomotive boiler, a typical water tube boiler, and onev in which my invention is installed outside the boiler placement, but the superheater disposed within the heated chamber.1n Veach case the separa-tor is in advance of thesuperheater. kI have found this arrangement more satisfactory than placing the separator after the superheater, though I do not limit my in vention or its applicationto any specific arrangement of the boiler parts. vBetter results can be obtained, however, by separating the vwaterV before superheating the steam, because 0 less energy will be required to heat thecomparatively dry steam than would be required to heat the steam and water to a temperature where the water would evaporate.

Another object withinr the contemplation of the present invention is to provide a device which is compact and easily installed,sim-

ple and inexpensive in construction, andthat. will not seriously interfere with the free passage of steam.

V Other objects and advantages of my inven .erably ofaV steam pipe having a section 2 leadying from the source of steam supply, and `from which a section 3 continues at an angle duit. This-bypass is for the purpose of .pro-

wardly along the "wall ofthe pipe l into the water chamber 5 without being disturbed by tion will become moreapparent from the folp lowlngspecificatlons when considered 1n conj, nection with the accompanying drawings, 1n

which: I l l' Y Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a steam conduit 570 parts in section,

showing an `arrangement of my invention and L Fig. 2 is asection at 2v2 of Figfl, showing Vmore clearly the arrangementofa by-pass,

and otherparts,...

Fig. 3 isa partially diagrammatic, sectional elevationof that portion of a locomotive boiler including the internally arranged steam pipe, and showing my invention as appliedto that type of boiler, some parts -being cut Y away,

Fig. is apartiallydiagrammatic illustra-z Y .tion of apart of a water tube boiler showing the application of my invention to that type of boiler, and4 l g Fig; 5 is an illustration of my Yinvention as .applied externally of the boiler placement.

Referringto the drawings with more particularity, the steam conduit 1 consists prefto the section of pipe 2. Approximatelyl in` line with the section of pipe 2, a' portion 4 continues to a water chamber 5 havingan out let 6. Within the pipe section 2 and disposed closely adjacent to the opening into section 3, l aiiix a separator 7 `having a restricted passage 8 therethrough and an angular opening 9 preferably'disposedin a position opposite the opening into section 3 ofthe steam pipe, the restricted passage 8 being, preferably,less in. sectional area than the section al area of the pipe section 3. The separator 7 is attached to` the wall of the conduit asbyscrews 10,7a portion of the separator 7 Vbeingy cut away to provide lan-.op'en by-pass 11 between 'a portion of the separator and the wall of the con* viding a means whereby any water entrained upon the walls of the conduit may pass the separator withouty passing through the restricted passage 8 andthus'continue vdown- Fig. 1, it is important to arrange that the Water entrained upon the WallsV of the pipe does not enter the restricted passage 8. For this purpose, I provide a space 12 surrounding the upper end of the separator and comof the separator which abuts the Wall of the pipe forms a boss 13 Which is so shaped as to prevent Water from passing along the Wall'of the pipe adjacent the opening into the pipe 3, and to lead the Water to the far side of-the pipe and through theby-pass 11.

The steam enters through the section of 'pipe 2, as indicated by the arroviT 14,-passes through the lrestricted passage .8 and out` of the restricted passage through `the angular opening 9, and turns into the pipe section 3, as indicated by the arrow 15. The steam 'in passing through the restricted passage 8,.,Will travel at increased speed, due to the restriction. 'Ihev Water carried by the steam Will also move at increased speed for'the same' reason, and because of the fact that it Will be impelled by the steam. When the steam enters the larger, unrestricted Vpipe section 3, it will move more slowly and have little effect in carrying with it any globules of Water. In the meantime, the globules being heavier per section 3 and continue into the Water chamber 5, as indicated by arrow 17 Y Where it Will remain to be drawn off in any suitable manner through the outlet 6, or otherwise disposed of. Such Water as may7 be entrained on the Walls of the section of pipe 2 Will pass through the by-pass 11 and continue into the Water chamber 5 undisturbed.

Referring to Eig. 3 Which discloses an emcomotive boiler, parts are numbered to correspond to similar parts iii Fig; 1, and the invention is of snnilar construction.

pipe 20 with a valve 21 is disposedinV a manner'usual in boilers of this type. Within the f sectionl of pipe immediately after the valve, and preferably Within the dome, the separator 7 is disposed Within the pipe. The section of pipe 3 leads into the dry'pi'pe 20. A Water Y chamber 5 of suitable design, is suitably disposed belovv. the separator 7' and provision posited in the chamberr 5 While the compara- 'tively Water free steam Will turn into the dry,

pipe 20 and through it to the superheater 22 which is usuallyY disposed within the smoke boX 23. The superheated steam passes out of ratedrwater, and that passing through the by-` passll, passes into a suit-able Water chamber=5 from Which'it is drawn olf in a suitable man- IVithinf the steamV dome 18 and the boiler 19, the dry the superheater 22 through the pipe 24 and to the engine, as in the usual manner.

It is not the intention of applicant to disclose alldetails of boiler construction or parts,

y but suiicient to make the application of the present invention to a boiler clear to on skilled in this art. inunicating with the by-pa'ss 11. The portion The section containing the separator 7 is connected to the steam pipe 26 by the section 2, and steam passing through the'separator enters the main lsteam pipe 27through the section 3, and thus to the superheater 28,V and out through the pipe 29 to the engine. The sepaiier through the outlet 6'. y

In Fig. 4, I have shown the Water chamber '5" asdisposed Within the furnace which is enclosed by the emplacement Walls 30, 31 and 32. by which arrangement the separated Water may be heated before being returned to the boiler or sufficiently heated to cause'it to evap- I jorate. unit volume than is theV steam Will tend to- Fig. 5 illustrates an embodimentof my'i'ii` vvention as arranged inconnection with a boill er of stillA a different type, in which the steam pipe 33 carries the steam `from the steam ,drum 34, but lies youtside the boiler and the boiler emplacement. The steam separator 7 jis disposed at a convenient place inthe steam pipe 33 from Which the pipe 35 may turn at an angle to the pipe 33 and enter the heating chamber 36, VWhere the steam may pass through a. suitable ksuperheater 37 before be -ing conducted to the engine. vThis arrangel ment' provides Ia convenient and accessible locationfor the separator and Water chamber, bodiment of my invention as appliedL to a lowhich latter may be arranged as al Water leg to the steam pipe. The Water Which may accumulate in the Water chambermay beobserved by means of a Water gauge glass 38, or other suitable means, arranged vand connected with the Water chamber. By this means the operator may more yintelligently adjust the means for evacuating the Water chamber of Water, and observe any variation in amount duit, said reducing means having an angular opening and a by-pass between said means and the wall of said conduit.

2. A steam separator, comprising a steam conduit, a reducing means within said con; duit, said reducing means having a passage therethrough and a by-pass between said reducing means and the wall of said conduit, and a portion of said conduit disposed at an angle to said passage.

3. A steam separator having a reduced passage therethrough, an angular opening from said passage, a by-pass parallel to said passage, and a steam conduit having a portion disposed at an angle to said passage and a water chamber.

il. In a steam separator, a steam conduit havin@ a reduced passage therein, through which the steam moving in said conduit may pass, a by-pass against the wall of said conduit through which water may pass, a portion of said conduit disposed at an angle, and a portion continuing substantially in line with the axis of said reducedppassage.

5. In a steam separator, a steam conduit, a reducing means therein having a reduced passage through which the steam may pass, a by-pass between said reducing means and the wall of said conduit through which waterentrained on the walls oit' said conduit may pass without entering said reduced passage, a channel about the end of said reducing meansrto trap water entrained upon the walls of said conduit and direct it into said bypass, an angular opening from said passage through which the steam may leave the passage at an angle, and a water chamber sub-V stantially in line with the axis of said passage to provide means whereby water globules leaving said passage with the steam may continue substantially in the line of the axis of said passage.

6. In a steam separator, a steam'conduit, a reducing means therein having a reduced passage through which the steam may pass, a by-pass between said reducing means and the wall of said conduit through which water entrained on the wallsof said conduit may pass without entering said reduced passage, a boss on said reducing means abutting on the'wall of said conduit, a channel about the end of said reducing means communicating with said by-pass, an angular opening from said passage through which the steam may leave the passage at an angle, and a water chamber substantially yin the line of the axis of said passage. Y

CARL C. THOMAS. 

